Barbara Mason #FBPE

"The further away we are from this war the better off we will be."

Brexit cut Britain off from its biggest market, and the damage is baked into the economy. Businesses face barriers that did not exist before, and investment has taken a hit. The UK should enter the Single Market and restore frictionless trade.

Europe is the largest single market in the world, and it was an act of self-sabotage to leave the EU. Joining the single market would facilitate easier trade between the UK and the EU, and would remove the red tape that many British businesses are struggling with now.

CJEU, asylum law III

Advocate General's opinion: Member States are not obliged to evacuate refugee family members from Gaza
infocuria.curia.europa.eu/tabs/documen...

"Give me the blandest thing on the menu"

CJEU, human rights

Advocate-General's opinion: EU legislation (challenged by Italy) requiring CCTV on (some) fishing vessels is valid - affects rights to privacy, data protection, and fair working conditions, but justified by need to enforce fisheries law - eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-conten...

Nothing new here.

CIA arming anyone for the cause.

Merkins NEVER learn.

One generation is all it takes.

RAJU: You'll concede this is war?

MARKWAYNE MULLIN: We haven't declared war. They declared war on us

RAJU: The president called it war and Secretary Hegseth called it war

REPORTER: When you walked up just now, you called it war

MULLIN: Okay. That was a misspoke.

Noem's replacement is Markwayne Mullin – one of the most stupid Republicans in a very tight field.
#MAGAmerica

US House Speaker Mike Johnson: “We're not at war right now.

“We're four days in to a very specific, clear mission, an operation, Operation Epic Fury.”

A Special Military Operation, say, just like your pals in the Kremlin.

Aaaahh OK.

A "Special operation".

I get it now.

Thinks :

?? (Where have I heard that phrase before)??

Whatever your politics, this has got to be burn of the week

Trump and Netanyahu have been funnelling weapons to Kurdish volunteers in Western Iran for months. They’re expected to begin an armed uprising in days, ITV reports.

Oh

Interesting that the BBC justifies its generous coverage of Reform using polling numbers - but only from "positive" polls! Turns out that Reform also tops the "negative" polls, ie it's the party most would vote AGAINST. And given tactical voting, the negative effect may even outweigh the positive🤔

Hey #BBC #TimDavie #FionaBruce #bbcqt

The game's up.

#ReformUK #NigelFarage

In yet another "Quick! Look over there" moment, King Donald the Mad has fired DHS chief and puppy executioner Kristi Noem after her performance in a Senate committee made him look like he knew what he was doing.

JFC AOL could you take a bit more care with your headlines please. In this case perhaps adding the word “test” before “fired”.

Volodimir Zelenskyy says the US has burned through 800 Patriot missiles in just three days of fighting in the Middle East – more than Ukraine has had during the entire war.

How Shabana Mahmood set out 'Labour argument' for forcibly deporting children

Labour values meant:
* accommodation would be conditional
* refugees would only be able to stay for 30 months before facing being sent back
* failed asylum seekers, incl. children, would be forcibly deported if they didn't accept payment to leave

What values?
metro.co.uk/2026/03/05/s...

Come and join the Lichfield Canal Camp

waterways.org.uk/support/ways...

#WeDigCanals

Oh

Almost 1 in 10 Reform councillors have quit “The latest to leave are two women from West Northamptonshire council, who quit amid complaints against the leader, fears about child safeguarding, and suggestions of misogyny from colleagues.”

Almost 1 in 10 Reform councillors have quit!
The latest to leave are two women from West Northamptonshire council, who quit amid complaints against the leader, fears about child safeguarding, and suggestions of misogyny from colleagues.”
leftfootforward.org/2026/03/almo...

😏 Monbiot expresses it much more eloquently!!

youtu.be/I9kupHFgcOY?...

Cruelty to immigrants is not what my party stands for. It’s time for True Labour, not Blue Labour | Stella Creasy | The Guardian We must get back to the party’s roots before it is too late. That means embracing difference, rejecting division – and fighting for opportunities for all, says MP for Walthamstow, Stella Creasy

2/2

The "Blue Labour » faction «" [my emphasis].

Absolutely correct.

~ Cruelty to immigrants is not what my party stands for. It’s time for True Labour, not Blue Labour | Stella Creasy ~

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/05/immigrants-labour-blue-labour-division-opportunities

Is there a particular 'roach which plays golf there?

Many of us are ashamed @jdportes.bsky.social
Ashamed to be British - because of this cruel talk; ashamed because of Brexit; ashamed because of the rampant inequality in the U.K.

TBC, we are not all cruel, lacking in empathy/compassion, divisive or racist; Shabana Mahmood doesn’t speak for me.

This article was amended on 5 March 2026. An earlier version said low-skilled workers would “receive immediate access to welfare and social housing” if Labour did not make them wait longer to apply for settlement. In fact, settlement status only gives people the eligibility to apply for welfare and social housing, it does not give them instant or automatic access to such benefits. This has been clarified. From breaking news to huge investigative proje

Guardian has now [after my complaint] corrected Mahmood's deliberate & incendiary false claim settlement gives immigrants "immediate access to welfare and social housing".

Good for Gdn but embarrassing/shameful that Home Secretary deliberately misled the public for political gain like this.

Spain sends warship to defend Cyprus as UK ‘doesn't have much to respond with’ - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com Spain sends warship to defend Cyprus while the UK struggles to respond decisively amid rising Mediterranean tensions.

Whoops!
The UK is facing increasing criticism regarding its defence posture as allied European navies act more swiftly to secure the eastern Mediterranean.
londonlovesbusiness.com/spain-sends-...

Reform UK is most disliked party in Britain, poll finds Not going well for Farage...

It's official. Reform UK is the most disliked party in UK politics, according to new polling. Polling carried out by research group More in Common asked voters which parties they would tactically block, and found that 38% of Brits would vote against Reform, up nine points since last November.

Trump’s Iran War Revives Israeli Plan to Remake Middle East that Drove Post-9/11 Invasions A Bush-era neoconservative network has reorganised under Trump and is now directing the exact same regime change playbook against Tehran

1996 policy paper:
"proposed that Israel, operating with unconditional US backing, should achieve permanent security by aggressively reshaping Middle East order through military interventions."
Shocking and creepy to read about this long-standing aggressive plan.
open.substack.com/pub/bylineti...